Rio Tinto is working with Japanese trader and business conglomerate Marubeni to supply low-carbon aluminum to major Japanese motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha Motor Company to enable more sustainable transportation solutions. This collaboration helps to meet the growing demand for low-carbon aluminum, which is increasingly preferred by manufacturers across various sectors, including automotive and motorcycle production. Currently, aluminum parts constitute 12–31% of a motorcycle’s total weight. Utilizing low-carbon aluminum is an effective strategy for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during the manufacturing phase.
Benefits for Yamaha Motor
By sourcing low-carbon aluminum through Rio Tinto and Marubeni, Yamaha Motor can create lighter and more efficient motorcycles, which not only improve performance, but also enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. This is particularly relevant in an industry where every kilogram contributes to overall efficiency.
The partnership exemplifies how collaboration can lead to impactful environmental solutions in response to the growing awareness around climate change. By providing traceable low-carbon aluminum, Rio Tinto and Marubeni are setting a new standard in aluminum production and driving transformation within industries such as motorcycle manufacturing.
Ensuring Traceability and Sustainability
In 2022, Rio Tinto signed a collaboration agreement with Marubeni to ensure a sustainable and reliable supply of aluminum to Japanese manufacturers, leveraging Marubeni’s extensive trading network for effective product delivery. To ensure the aluminum supplied for Yamaha Motor’s motorcycles is sustainably produced, Rio Tinto launched the RenewAl™ brand in 2016. This brand is certified by a third party and guarantees that the aluminum is produced with less than four tonnes of GHG emitted per tonne of aluminum.
Rio Tinto’s production process at New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS), which utilizes hydropower, allows for the issuance of the RenewAl™ certificate for the aluminum supplied. Additionally, data-driven traceability ensures a clear connection between the aluminum production at NZAS and the final product — Yamaha motorcycles. Each sales order comes with a START™ sustainability label that includes up to 14 environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics, such as carbon footprint and water management.
Shared Goals for a Sustainable Future
The alignment of goals among Rio Tinto, Marubeni, and Yamaha Motor highlights their commitment to sustainability. Yamaha aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, while Marubeni is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the same year. Rio Tinto has set a target for net-zero emissions from its operations by 2050. This collaboration not only helps aluminum customers meet the rising demand for responsibly produced products but also advances the commitment to decarbonizing the aluminum value chain in the industry.
About the Companies
Rio Tinto is a multinational mining and metals company based in London, recognized for its high-quality mineral and metal production, including aluminum. The company is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint and has ambitious goals to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through sustainable practices.
Marubeni Corporation is one of Japan’s leading general trading companies, established in the 1850s. It operates across diverse domains, including consumer goods and energy, and plays a critical role in facilitating international trade and investment. With its extensive network and market insight, Marubeni connects producers and manufacturers, helping to ensure the effective distribution of sustainable products across industries.